After reading dozens of outstanding reviews for Dr. Nissirios on ZocDoc, I scheduled an appointment with him to see if I'd be a candidate for LASIK.
Shortly after booking, he personally called me and answered a few questions I had about needing to keep out my contact lenses for some time before my consultation, making me feel comfortable and confident in my choice to reach out to him.
His assistant, Emily, incredibly cheerful and helpful, then took over. She scheduled time for me before my consultation to have a corneal topography and some other tests done at the Laser Center on East 56th Street and 3rd Avenue (the same place I would later have my procedure done).
After getting scans at the Laser Center a week later, I went to Dr. Nissirios's office in midtown Manhattan on West 60th Street and Broadway for my consultation. He struck me as a down-to-earth, patient doctor, who genuinely cares about his patients.
After looking at the reports from my scans and doing several tests on my eyes himself, he explained to me that while I could technically have LASIK done, it would be a little risky because I have thinner-than-average corneas and a moderately high prescription. He was very good at helping me understand how it all worked, even drawing on paper for me, so I could visualize what he was saying. Instead, he suggested that I undergo a similar procedure called PRK, which I agreed sounded like a better fit.
Very patient, he gave me as much time as I needed to ask questions and walked me through everything to expect. By the end of the visit, I was ready to make the move so I went ahead and scheduled the surgery for a Friday afternoon two weeks later. This would give me the weekend to recover and minimize time away from work, as PRK recovery takes longer than LASIK.
On the day of surgery, I showed up at the Laser Center, feeling pretty nervous. But once I met the very welcoming nurse, I felt much better. She joked around with me a little while I waited for Dr. Nissirios to arrive.
The procedure took less than 15 minutes, way faster than I imagined. My eyes were completely numb the whole time and, honestly, the only discomfort I felt were the parts when he rinsed each eye with cool water. He walked me through everything he was doing. He showed me the instruments he was going to use, explained what I would feel, and gave me a good idea of how long each step would take. He even let me ask questions and talk a little while it was all happening, which really helped me feel more comfortable.
Before I knew it, he was having me sit up and asked me read the clock on the wall across the room. Whoa! I was used to not even seeing the alarm clock next to my bed without squinting and holding it up to my face. He made sure my temporary bandage contacts were fitting well and then reviewed the post-op instructions with me and reminded me what to expect for the next few days. He then sent me home with a nice kit of wetting drops, protective sunglasses, and googles to wear for a few nights while sleeping. He also gave me a number to contact him if I needed anything or had questions, something he reiterated several times.
My first post-op exam was at his office right in Astoria (closer to home and more convenient for me than Manhattan). I hardly waited at all to see him, which was great. He thoroughly examined my eyes to be sure there was no sign of infection and to see how they were healing. I was in very good shape, so he removed the temporary contacts and again offered to answer any questions I had before I left.
I had my second post-op exam last Tuesday in Astoria, about five weeks after the surgery and I've finally found time to post this review. Everything is going really well and I'm almost at 20/20 vision at this point, with the only side-effect being some dryness, which he's reassured me is common and will continue to improve, along with my sight itself.
If you're considering refractive eye surgery, I cannot recommend Dr. Nissirios enough. He uses only the latest and best equipment, he has a warm, friendly demeanor, and he shows clear concern for the well-being of his patients. read more